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Monday, 13 October 2014

ANXIETY GRIPS SHIMO LA TEWA MAXIMUM PRISON

Massive
corruption at the Shimo la Tewa Prison in Mombasa county has attracted the
attention of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission who moved in and carried
with them documents for examinations following reports of extreme corruption
highlighted by your favourite Weekly Citizen.

The
documents were from the procurement department where the vice is said to be rampant
and are to be used to unearth alleged abuse of office in procurement of
commodities said to be orchestrated by senior officers at the
prison, causing the government to lose millions of shilling in questionable
deals.

It
is pointed out by suppliers to the prison that Shimo la Tewa stores department
where the EACC is investigating the deals, officers use their close confidants
to kill their prey and go as far as paying themselves before dealing with
genuine suppliers pending bills. Surprisingly, the cost of a chicken goes at
Sh4,000, according to sources privy with information contained in invoices at
the accounts department.

It
has emerged from those privy with regional commander’s office, a Mr Kodieny
that the government has stopped payment of Ocean Trading Limited pending bills
amounting to more than Sh56 million. The company owners, Messrs Rajni Shah, who
is the architect could not hold his tribulation from his close associate whom
he shortchanged and now are exposing him with officers at the Shimo La Tewa
prison.

The
companies under investigation are Dina Max Enterprises, Kenondag Enterprises,
Oil Xtra Enterprises, AnWaki Enterprises, Haulpak Ltd and Omogal Enterprises,
Taita Distributors, Delaijaj Enterprises, City Millennium, Zimalat Enterprises,
Geke Enterprises and Soniko Enterprises. The companies are said to be
associated with senior officers at the prison and self-styled brokers who take
advantage of their positions during suppliers where millions are minted.

With
rising cases of corruption like that of Anglo Leasing in which the government
paid in unclear circumstances, the Inspector General of Police David
Kimaiyo recently gave stern warning to officers living luxuriously
with corruption allegations syndicates hanging around their shoulders.

The
senior prison officers at the coast should be investigated on land grabbing
syndicate and corruption at the prison, sources told Weekly Citizen. The
Commissioner of Prisons is alleged to be protecting corrupt officers in his
docket for his personal gain at the Shimo La Tewa Maximum Prison.

The
most affected by corruption are Manyani and Malindi prisons in Coastal
province. It was revealed from suppliers that the officer in charge of
Shimo La Tewa Maximum Prison is alleged to be a major supplier of food and
other commodities through his company Taita Distributors registered in the name
of his son. The prison officer who was posted two years ago from Nakuru prison,
is claimed to be the richest officer at the prison and brags to be connected to
a senior Commissioner of Prison Service, whom he is alleged to be building
an apartment at a disputed plot of Kalimo Upepo Settlement Scheme, Shanzu.

The
officer is alleged to have built a multi-million hotel on the outskirts of
Mtwapa in Kilifi. It is now being pointed out that officers at Shimo la Tewa
Prison are demanding the removal of a Mr Nyuto on allegation of tribalism,
corruption and abuse of office. Statistics indicate that during his reign at
the prison, he has interdicted 10 prison officers for not toeing his line on
flimsy excuses and reasons. Last week, after the outcry of suppliers to the
prison and intervention by human rights organisations, the Commissioner of
Prisons Mr Isaiah Osugo facilitated the release of Sh20 million to
suppliers, which was distributed in unclear circumstances by the said officer.

“It’s
now clear that corruption at the Shimo La Tewa Maximum Prison is being
practiced openly by the officer in charge of the prison,” lamented a supplier
who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being victimised by the said
officer.

This
happens as the officer in charge of the prison is being investigated for the
multi-million shilling tender scam in the construction of staff quarters under
the Rapid Response Initiative project. He has denied the allegations being
levelled against him.

Civil
society organisations have criticised the Johnstone Kavuludi Commission
for giving a wide berth to the prison department vetting exercise.The more than
60 suppliers are soon to hold a demonstration to press for their dues from
the prison with claims the Sh 20 million released recently was paid to
those loyal to the officer in charge.